Tesla has announced that it will allow other automakers to use its patents in an effort to encourage global electric vehicle adoption.

Tesla Patents to Go Public

Tesla CEO Elon Musk declared that Tesla will not initiate lawsuits against any person or company who, in good faith, wants to use its technology. He further said that the patents have been removed, in the spirit of the open source movement, for the advancement of electric vehicle technology.

Musk went on to say that the company originally obtained the patents because they were afraid larger automakers would copy their technology and then use their manufacturing and sales / marketing muscle to put them out of business.

“We couldn’t have been more wrong. The unfortunate reality is the opposite: electric car programs (or programs for any vehicle that doesn’t burn hydrocarbons) at the major manufacturers are small to non-existent, constituting an average of far less than 1% of their total vehicle sales,” he added.

The company’s main reason for Tesla patents to go publicis because it is impossible for them to build electric cars fast enough to address the carbon crisis.

As mentioned in an official statement by Musk, “Tesla Motors was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electric vehicles, but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal.”

“We believe that Tesla, other companies making electric cars, and the world would all benefit from a common, rapidly-evolving technology platform.”

We hope market leaders like Toyota, Hyundai and the German giants of BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz use the technology.